My 11-year old daughter was struggling with a gospel question this week. As we discussed her ideas, I could see she was becoming more agitated and sad. She kept saying that she had a very bad feeling whenever this topic came up. She felt sad and upset…and I might add, a bit angry. When I told her to take it to the Lord, she claimed that the Lord never answers her prayers, so why pray about it? She said that the way she felt currently was an answer to her prayers and she did not need to ask the Lord about this topic specifically. As the discussion went on, it became very apparent to me that she was not under any influence of the Holy Ghost whatsoever. I explained how the Lord will never make us feel angry or upset when He is answering us. We might feel stumped if it is a no, but very peaceful and happy when it is a yes. After we get an answer, we should check that the answer is from God by asking again. And for me, I ask again. (Knock three times, eh?) This simplistic answer seemed to suffice for now, but how could I explain to my daughter the workings of the Spirit when it has taken me so many decades to finally get a glimmer into what is possible? Piercing the veil is no easy task for many of us. It is through obedience to the small promptings and guidance that the Spirit gives every day that we learn how to get answers to life’s bigger questions. Promptings can communicate the will of Christ and they are the primary way that we can know His will. However, some might ask, how do you even hear the small promptings?

It’s very, very important to understand that not everyone’s bosom is burning. You have to figure out for yourself how the Spirit speaks to you and TRUST it. For my husband, the Spirit works through feeling. He then has to interpret that feeling. Sometimes, he finds a direct answer in the scriptures. (This week, this actually happened to me after asking for a quick answer, I felt where to look in the scriptures and the answer was directly in front of me). For a woman I know, the Spirit sings to her and she hears music in her head. For another, the Spirit might come in dreams or in noticing seeming coincidences. For me, I hear actual words in my mind and I see flashing pictures. However, I did not recognize that was the Spirit until I was forty-four years old. I had been praying about a huge trial in my life for almost three months. I had not received an answer and did not want to make the sacrifice that seemed to be looming ahead of me. I got down on my knees and begged and pleaded with Him to talk to me. As I was praying, two distinct and random pictures flashed in my mind’s eye. They were a bit bizarre, to tell the truth. I berated myself. Can’t I even pray for five minutes without having strange pictures flash? What is wrong with me that I can’t concentrate?

I then heard the words:

“Melonie, this is the way I talk to you. I’ve been talking to you this way for years.”

I was stunned. Then the Lord walked me through each of the pictures that were shown to me and asked me questions.

“What does it mean to you when I show you this?” He asked as he showed me the picture.

“Abudance.” I replied. Then He showed me the next picture.

“and this?”

“Joy,” I answered.

“That’s right. Abundance and Joy. If you make this sacrifice, this is what I promise you.”

After years of ignoring the strange pictures and thinking I was a bit crazy, the Lord had to finally hit me over the head with the obvious. This was a way that He spoke to me personally and I was so blind that I did not even recognize it!

Most importantly, when we do recognize the Spirit in the way it manifests itself to us, we obey without argument or delay. When we have the Holy Ghost in our lives, Paul says that we will see the good fruits of it…love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, righteousness, and truth.” (Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:9) That sounds like a pretty great place to be in, doesn’t it?

So, do you hear what I hear? Probably not, I’m looking at funny pictures.

How does the Spirit manifest itself in your life?